Intern - AI Engineer

About the role

Nelnet's AI Lab is building the agent frameworks, integrations, and technical infrastructure that will define how Nelnet operates with AI over the next several years. AI Engineer Interns join a small, high-velocity team doing that work directly.

Responsibilities

• Help build, test, and iterate on AI agents using the team's secure agent framework.
• Work with LLM APIs, multi-agent orchestration patterns, and tooling that runs in Nelnet's Microsoft 365 and cloud environment.
• Track developments in LLM frameworks, agent architectures, tooling, and industry approaches.
• Evaluate options against the team's real constraints (security, identity, M365 integration) and surface findings with clear "so what" framing.
• Build proof-of-concept integrations between LLM-based systems and Nelnet's internal tools and APIs.
• Test assumptions early, document what worked and what didn't, and hand off something the team can build on.
• Document design decisions, system behavior, and implementation notes with the precision of someone who expects a future engineer to read it.
• Participate in code review as both author and reviewer.
• Present your work, findings, and recommendations to AI Lab leadership and team members at the end of the internship period.

Requirements

• Pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field.
• A strong portfolio of personal projects, open-source contributions, or prior technical internships carries more weight than GPA alone.
• Hands-on AI Tool Usage (Required): Has used LLMs for real technical work, not just experimentation.
• Programming: Python is the primary language. Solid working knowledge is required.
• Experience with any of the following is a strong plus: LangChain, LangGraph, Claude API, OpenAI/Claude SDK, FastAPI, or similar frameworks.
• Familiarity with REST APIs, JSON, and basic cloud or serverless patterns is beneficial.
• Prior Technical Projects: Personal projects, research, coursework projects, or prior internships that involved building something end-to-end.

Qualifications

• Education Pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field.

Skills

• LLM Fluency: Uses LLMs as a genuine engineering tool, not just a novelty.
• Agentic Systems Thinking: Understands how business workflows can be decomposed into agentic patterns.
• Programming and Technical Depth: Working Python proficiency. Comfortable reading unfamiliar code, debugging across system boundaries, and writing code others can maintain.
• Research Rigor: Can evaluate a new framework or approach systematically.
• Communication: Can explain a technical approach to a non-technical stakeholder and a design decision to a senior engineer in the same day.

Benefits

• One-on-one mentorship.
• Competitive pay.
• Casual dress.
• Flexible schedule.
• Intern-specific programming.
• Meaningful work experience.

Pay

$21 - $25

Schedule

Not specified

Benefits

• Drug Free and Tobacco Free Workplace.

Application Instructions

Apply to one of our internships today. Your career awaits.

Contact Information

Nelnet is committed to providing a welcoming and respectful workplace where all associates have the opportunity to succeed. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we ensure that all qualified applicants are considered for employment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion/creed, national origin, gender, sex, marital status, age, disability, use of a guide dog or service animal, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We value the unique contributions of every team member and believe that a positive work environment benefits everyone.